Dermatology Is Not My Strong Suit

Or, I know nothing.

I had a mole on my arm.  It's been there for years.  A bit smaller than the head of an eraser, dark, but not offensive or anything.  Just - there.  I've noticed that it's gotten darker and larger and has uneven borders and basically, all the hallmarks that the women's magazines tell you to watch out for, and get thee to a doctor pronto.  So, I called and got an appointment.  Woke up, got in the car and drove, all of the time wondering WHY I was going and pondering over how stupid the doctor will think I am.  What I could be doing with all that time, not to mention money.  Wondering why I make myself crazy by reading all of those dumb articles in magazines, making every article ALL ABOUT ME, remembering all of the times that I read about brain tumors and cancers and other diseases and making them fit my symptoms.  Thinking about the fact that I'm a hypochondriac and certain that the doctor would chuckle patronizingly and send me on my merry way.

Yeah.

So, of course, the doctor looked at it closely, and remarked, "I don't like the looks of that AT ALL."  He then put on his super duper groovy lit magnifying lenses and peered at it up close for a minute.  He snapped the glasses off and said, "Now I really don't like it even more."   He numbed it and scraped it off and cauterized it in .5 seconds.  And now we wait.  For 14 days.

Wanna join me in a cocktail?  Raise a glass and say, "It's nothing, it's nothing, it's NOTHING."

Comments

[Tammy/Photography for Fun]

14 Days??? What a wait! I'll be praying it's NOTHING!!!

[Gina B.]

Been there. Done that. Mine was a mole that I didn't like the looks of. My dermatologist was not concerned, but I insisted on having it checked out. It was a good thing I did. Dermatopathology was inconclusive on the small sample so I was referred to a plastic surgeon. He did a wider excision. Biopsy turned out fine, thankfully.
I have an 1 1/2" scar on my leg which reminds me that I need to my own health advocate.
I will keep you in my thoughts and hope that everything goes well for you.

[Angela in Ohio]

Nothing, nada, zip. (but sending light your way just in case!)

[Caren Story]

Praying for good results back for you Carmen!

[CharmingDriver]

Christ on a cracker - Hugs.

[Kai]

Raising my glass to you now and repeating the mantra "It's absolutely nothing! Nothing!" In fact for you, I'll have TWO "it's nothing" drinks!

[Karen Sugarpants]

I'll be thinking good thoughts for you. Yikes.

[TheMama]

It's nothing. It's nothing. It's nothing.

Just chanting with you... and I'll share my story to distract you too.

I had this done once. Bad moles run in my family, so I brought one to the attention of my PC, who referred me to a dermatologist. Who promptly said, "Huh. It's blue."

Wah? Huh? Eff-me! BLUE?

Knowing I had not gotten a Pheobe-esque tattoo, like, EVER, they removed it and sent it out for testing. Turns out it was a nothing called a Blue Nevis. Who knew they came in blue?

[Headless Mom]

They got it, it's fine.

[Rebecca]

I hate the waiting. I'm moley and have a family history of skin cancer.I've had so many things removed and it's always turned out to be nothing but the waiting to know that is the worst.*holds your hand*

[Megan]

Raising a glass! I will be thinking of you and hoping it's nothing. Good for you for not putting it off. And if you are ever in doubt again, I know several dermatologists and they all say that would much, much rather a patient come in for a mole that's nothing than put it off, particularly if the warning signs are there. I think that applies to most health concerns.

[Jamie]

The waiting is the worse! I'm sure it's nothing and good for you for having it checked out.

I'll be sending you positive vibes!

[Katie]

If they only scarped it off then he will be confident he got all the tissue associated with it. They don't like leaving it to chance. Even if it is cancerous it will be fine.

(Can you tell I'm a firm believer in the power of positive thinking)

[Tina]

Why, oh, why do they make you wait for TWO FRACKING WEEKS?! That is ridiculous. It's most likely absolutely nothing, but the anxiety you'll experience over those two weeks is REALLY BAD FOR YOU. So stay cool and lose yourself in a few good books and a few good cocktails while you wait...

[FishyGirl]

Been there, done that, got a bunch of annoying scars to prove it. I'm paler than pale and have skin cancers, several kinds, in my family, so I have to go every 6 months to have them checked by someone with more knowledge and better eyes than me. Learn from my experience - call them and make them double check in two weeks if you don't hear from them, and then call and check again two weeks after that no matter what. I got called back 9 months after my last biopsy.

It'll be .... a mole. Nothing more.

[Annika]

I am doing the "It's NOTHING!" dance, which is a little bit like the rain dance, or maybe the pee-pee dance.

[chris]

It's nothing. Since I don't drink I raise my can of diet Dr Pepper with you.

[LeeAnn]

I know exactly what you're going thru. The waiting game sucks. I'm keeping positive thoughts going for you.

[Busy Mom]

Hang in there, I'm sure it's gonna be OK.

[Brandy]

Fourteen days is too long. I'll be keeping you in my prayers. I know what you mean though. I was tired, so very tired and thought that I needed to exercise more. I ended up exercising but basically coming home and then sitting down and crying when it was time to get up because I was so tired. When I went to the Doc I asked about vitamins. *g* Tests later and I have hypothyroidism. Who knew I had a reason for being tired? *G*

[jen]

That you have to wait 14 days for results is insane. I'm lifting a glass and screaming "It's NOTHING" to the skies for you.

[Dianna]

It's nothing, not to worry, all will be fine.

[AJMick]

Oh geez! I'm fair skinned (friends call me transparent!), natural blonde, sunburn EASILY and I have moles. I had a pencil eraser type mole on my lower back that I obviously couldn't see but one year when I went to a new doc for my annual she suggested I get it "looked at". Great. Nevermind the fact that it sometimes itched and I had made it bleed a few times... bad, bad, BAD! I worried and waited the two weeks, certain the news would be bad... test results came back negative, no cancer, whew! I'm sure you'll be fine, too!

[amy]

If it is something, then it is really good you went to the doc. I actually diagnosed a melanoma on my bff back over 25 years ago, and she is just fine thankyouverymuch! BUT I caught it early for her just 'cause I am nosy like that, and boy do we talk about that many a time! By the way, if it is something, and they have to do a big excision, I recommend going to a plastic surgeon because they have trained a lot longer in surgical techniques. It won't offend your dermatologist, and you will probably be a lot happier with the cosmetic results. Just my two cents. I am really glad you went and I hope everyone always double checks their moles and their kids moles. Especially for fair skinned people!

[Vanessa]

I have two of those places I've been meaning to get checked, all the things you describe. You've just made it much harder to ignore. I'm thinking good thoughts for you, because really, it will turn out to be nothing! (fingers crossed)